About Wendy’s Wish 911

  • Wendy's Wish 911 is an initiative created by Wendy Hendrickson, an ALS Warrior and advocate, in collaboration with the ALS Hope Foundation.

    Our mission is to raise awareness, to educate and facilitate conversations with first responders and hospital emergency staff about the unique challenges faced by individuals living with ALS and other neurological conditions during emergencies.

    The program aims to ensure first responders and hospital emergency staff are well-equipped to provide appropriate support and care and to bridge the knowledge gap.

  • When Wendy Hendrickson was diagnosed with ALS she found that, while her friends and family were very supportive, there was both a lack of information about ALS and a lot of misinformation. She, along with her husband Chaz, decided to take on this need for more education and training. The knowledge gap among first responders and hospital emergency staff needed to be addressed immediately.

    • Meet and Begin the Conversation: Encourage open communication between first responders, hospital emergency staff and individuals living with ALS and other neurological conditions.

    • Provide information and Instruction: Provide first responders and hospital emergency staff with specific information about ALS and other neurological conditions.

    • Bridge the Knowledge Gap: By educating first responders and hospital emergency staff, the program helps ensure they are better prepared to handle emergencies involving individuals living with ALS and other neurological conditions.

    • Undertake a Fund Raising Campaign: In addition to the educational component of Wendy’s Wish 911 Program, a fund-raising campaign will help offset costs for the training and raise funds to provide “My ID” bracelets, stickers and resource materials for individuals living with ALS and other neurological conditions, their caregivers and families.

    • Train and Share Resources and Programs: Make first responders and emergency room personnel aware of products like “MyID” bracelets and stickers that will enable them to have immediate, real time and crucial medical information available simply by scanning a QR code, unique to each individual living with ALS and other neurological conditions. In addition, we will share and train with a current program, The Yellow Dot Program. It has been in effect for many years and yet first responders are unaware of this program. In addition to many other free resources available to alert and assist first responders that the patient being treated is a person living with ALS and other neurological conditions

    • Engage with the Community: Wendy’s Wish 911 Program will foster a greater sense of community by bringing together individuals with ALS, and other neurological conditions, caregivers, first responders, hospital emergency staff, and other community members. We seek to encourage open conversations and collaboration thereby bridging the knowledge gap.

    • Save Lives: First responders and hospital emergency staff can provide more informed and effective care, leading to safer outcomes for individuals with these conditions.

    ALS Warriors fight every day to stay alive.
    None of us want to die in 4 minutes because of the knowledge gap.